BWI- Can I walk my son to his gate if I’m not traveling?

[Anonymous]

My 17 year old is traveling to his dad’s. Am I allowed to walk to his gate with him even I’m not traveling? This is his first time traveling alone (he’s 17). Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Seriously?

[Anonymous]

No. You cannot go beyond security check. Only ticketed people are allowed

[Anonymous]

17, maybe but can't he handle it alone at 17?

[Anonymous]

Does he have special needs?

[Anonymous]

What on earth…

[Anonymous]

Did you mean to say 7 instead of 17?

[Anonymous]

You can get unaccompanied minor assistance for a fee. That’s how my 9 yr old is traveling home from her grandparents’ cabin this summer.

[Anonymous]

I did this with my 17 year old last summer. Just ask the airline for a gate pass. Not a big deal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. You cannot go beyond security check. Only ticketed people are allowed

You can request a gate pass from the airline ticket desk when checking in. But you have to wait in line because it can only be done by an agent, not at a kiosk


https://community.southwest.com/t5/Knowledge-Base/Requesting-a-Non-Passenger-Escort-Pass/ta-p/93349

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can get unaccompanied minor assistance for a fee. That’s how my 9 yr old is traveling home from her grandparents’ cabin this summer.

You can ask for a gate pass for free even without the full UM service.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I knew that were a lot of nasty people on DCUMs but why are you so nasty? He has never flown alone and hasn’t flown more than 2-3 times in his life. Not everyone has money to fly their kids around on their own. He asked me if I was coming to the gate and I had no idea if it was allowed. Thanks to those who answered the question without being a jerk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I knew that were a lot of nasty people on DCUMs but why are you so nasty? He has never flown alone and hasn’t flown more than 2-3 times in his life. Not everyone has money to fly their kids around on their own. He asked me if I was coming to the gate and I had no idea if it was allowed. Thanks to those who answered the question without being a jerk.

But how is he going to learn to fly on his own if you don’t let him figure it out. By the time I was 18 I was backpacking through Europe alone. As a millennial female. One time I bought a train ticket to the wrong city in Poland and had to get a new ticket without speaking a lick of Polish. Drop him off early enough for him to fix it if he screws up and let him learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I knew that were a lot of nasty people on DCUMs but why are you so nasty? He has never flown alone and hasn’t flown more than 2-3 times in his life. Not everyone has money to fly their kids around on their own. He asked me if I was coming to the gate and I had no idea if it was allowed. Thanks to those who answered the question without being a jerk.

But how is he going to learn to fly on his own if you don’t let him figure it out. By the time I was 18 I was backpacking through Europe alone. As a millennial female. One time I bought a train ticket to the wrong city in Poland and had to get a new ticket without speaking a lick of Polish. Drop him off early enough for him to fix it if he screws up and let him learn.

How nice for you. I have to wait at the airport until his flight leaves anyway. If it’s canceled, I have to take him home so why not wait with him?

[Anonymous]

You can get a gate pass. Just go to the ticket counter.


I agree with everyone else though that a 17 year old who is not disabled should navigate this alone. That’s how you learn.